Lyras

Recs: There's Something About A Malfoy - and SEQUEL

lyras — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:04:55 GMT

A few years ago, a story called There's Something About A Malfoy took the hp_springsmut fest by storm. It's always fun to see momentum building about a story like that, and so I was interested in checking it out...but there were Malfoys! Malfoys are not my favourite things, however pretty and blond they may be.

But there was also the summary, which I think is one of the better ones I've ever seen:

Charlie has no room in his drawers for anyone else's skivvies, Harry wallows in moral agony for a bit, Draco wants to rebuild his life, and Scorpius just wants Harry to stop being an idiot. And there's something wicked in the forest. If they're going to stop it, they're all going to have to work together.

That summary kept nagging away at me, until I eventually started reading...and then 27,500 words later, I'd finished it in one sitting. Quite simply, it's one of the best combinations I've seen in HP fic of a really well-written, engrossing, plotty story with thoughtful characterisations and touching sex scenes that are hot while also adding to the plot.

Of course, now I know that the author was the lovely mindabbles, the brilliance of the story makes a lot of sense. :)

Anyway, I reread it again recently, and it was still engrossing second time around - and even more enjoyable, because I knew what was coming.

Why did I reread it? Because a while back I'd dropped mindabbles a prompt request for some kind of follow-up to There's Something About A Malfoy. And she delivered in spades!

Title: Something in the Air
Characters/Pairings: Harry/Scorpius, Charlie/Draco
Rating: NC-17
Summary: There's something awry in the forest—again. But this time, it's messing with his sex life and Scorpius is having none of it.

This story is only ("only") 6,000 words or so, but mindabbles manages to cram into that, apparently effortlessly, plenty of plot, more hot sex (well, it was posted to daily_deviant) and the same, endearing characters. I loved it - it felt completely in keeping with the original story, but in a more bitesize format.

So, in short, if you haven't read There's Something About A Malfoy, now's your chance!

If you have read it, or if you don't want to read 27,000 words (although you won't regret it if you do) and are comfortable reading established relationship fic, then here is the sequel: Something in the Air.

Obviously, if you enjoy either of them, please do let the author know!

This entry was originally posted at http://lyras.dreamwidth.org/75806.html. You can comment there using Open ID.

Fic: Sunlight in the Garden (Pomona Sprout/Alice Longbottom)

lyras — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:13:23 GMT

hp_beholder reveals were a few days ago, which means I can now publicly thank dueltastic for the wonderful The Vultures of Love, starring Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape, Irma Pince and Argus Filch. If you haven't read it and you like any of those characters, I do urge you to give it a shot. Aside from being a great story and very well written, it's also one of those stories that makes me see the HP world and its characters in a different light. Which is one of my favourite things about fanfiction, so thank you again, dueltastic!

My own story, as guessed correctly by miss_morland, was Sunlight in the Garden, written for _hannelore. It was challenging to write, but also very enjoyable, so I was touched by the response it received from readers.

Title: Sunlight in the Garden
Rating: (very light) R
Pairings: Pomona Sprout/Alice Longbottom
Word Count: 4,300 words
Warnings/Content Information (Highlight to View): *References to the emotional fallout of the attack on the Longbottoms; references to memory loss*.
Summary: Pomona hasn't seen Neville since he was a baby, but the moment he steps into her greenhouse, the past begins chasing her down.
Author's/Artist's Notes: This was written for _hannelore for the 2013 round of hp_beholder, and originally posted here. Thank you to teenage_hustler, author_by_night and secondsilk for beta-reading; all remaining errors and infelicities are my own. The title is inspired by Louis MacNeice's beautiful poem, The Sunlight on the Garden.

Read it on LJ or on AO3.

This entry was originally posted at http://lyras.dreamwidth.org/75763.html. You can comment there using Open ID.

HP_beholder: wrap-up/follow-up

lyras — Sun, 19 May 2013 11:34:35 GMT

1. If you've enjoyed hp_beholder in this or previous years, you may want to check out beholder_plus, a community set up by the lovely magnetic_pole to discuss the themes, characters and anything else relating to the fest (or, as magnetic_pole puts it, "the challenges and joys of writing unconventionally attractive characters in general").

2. Quite a few people on my friends list wrote for the fest, so I enjoyed trying to guess who was responsible for each story. I have my suspicions about several of you, although I won't voice them unless asked! I'm also curious to know whether anyone thinks they've figured out which story was mine, so feel free to leave your guesses in the comments, if you like. Comments are screened, and I won't be confirming or denying any guesses until reveals happen next week. :)

This entry was originally posted at http://lyras.dreamwidth.org/75029.html. You can comment there using Open ID.

Final recs for HP_beholder

lyras — Sun, 19 May 2013 11:23:57 GMT

Just a couple more recs, as the fest has now wrapped up for the year.

First up: Come Back to Haunt You, Moaning Myrtle/Minerva McGonagall, background Minerva McGonagall/Amelia Bones, 4000 words, rated Teen. Summary: Nothing about love makes sense.

There have been a few Myrtle stories this year, and all of them have succeeded, I think, in making her something more than her canon caricature. This one takes its starting point from the fact that Myrtle and Minerva must have been near-contemporaneous (is that a word?) at Hogwarts, at least if you subscribe to the original backstory/assumptions about Minerva's age. It's a sweet, moving and occasionally funny look at second chances with two characters who have known each other for sixty years.

“You’re back from the funeral,” she said.

“Yes,” I replied. “And a very proper one it was.”

She leaned closer, so that her nose came within an inch of my own. I could feel the slight chill that always emanated from her.

“You’re not crying, Minnie.”

“Well observed.”

“Your eyes aren’t even red!”

I looked at the mirror above the sink, where I saw my familiar lined face, framed by frizzy black hair: nothing less, nothing more.

“They’ve been green for seventy two years,” I said. “Five longer than yours, I dare say.”

Myrtle drew back, assessing me, lips tightened. “Do you know what they’re saying about you in the Prefects’ Bathroom?”

The combativeness of her voice startled me. “Usually I don’t much care to know,” I said. “You know that.” One could lose hours to gossip with Myrtle.

“You’d like to know this.”

“I’m not so sure, Myrtle.”

“They’re saying you were Amelia’s—“

My stomach dropped in premonition.

“—lover.”

For the first time that day, I felt something out of the ordinary: a sudden wave of nausea, a shiver, a sudden narrowing of my field of vision. I heard a ringing in my ears so strong and disorienting it caused me first to grasp the edge of the sink and then to retreat to my sitting room, where I sank down onto the couch and tried to clear my head.

Myrtle followed—less out of concern for me, I suspected, than a sense that the topic wasn’t yet finished. “Minnie! How could you keep a secret like this from me, for all this time?”

The tears were about to come, I could sense it. “Myrtle.”

“After all these years! I thought you were my friend!”

“I am, Myrtle.”

“You never tell me anything!

“Myrtle, be sensible.”

“No one ever tells me anything!” Myrtle began to wail. “I might as well be dead, for all anyone cares!”

The ringing was becoming louder. I pressed my fingers in my ears and squeezed my eyes shut.

“Out, Myrtle,” I said, my voice strange to my own ears. “Now.”

Next up is The Aftermath, Charity/Hermione, Dudley/Neville, Pomona/Minerva, 3770 words, PG-13. Summary: In the days after the Battle for Hogwarts, there was much healing work to be done. Fortunately all of creation was helping.

This is a beautiful story of healing. I know there are some (very unusual) pairings in there, but for me the story almost reads as gen, because it isn't about any one couple getting together; it's about how the whole of Hogwarts regroups after the Battle of Hogwarts, looking for (and finding) hope for the future. I love the way the author blends the constant presence of magic with the sense of love that permeates all the characters and settings, making for a truly beautiful, moving story.

Nurse Pomfrey hurried to the apothecary for more Burn Banishing salve. The honey and comfrey concoction was a specialty of Pomona’s, and it worked miracles as far as she was concerned. Having used up several pints in the past day, she made a note to reorder now, to allow plenty of time. It wouldn’t do to be without.

On her way back to her patient, she nodded and smiled at Charity and the Granger girl who were tending a crumpled form. She watched as Hermione held a steady Lumos while Charity carefully completed the elaborate bandage at the man’s throat. Several glowing potions flowed into the drip line running into the unconscious man’s arm. Poppy nodded her approval and bustled on.

Through the archway she caught a glimpse of Pomona Sprout running triage in the makeshift A&E. There was quite a crowd, but no doubt Pomona had the situation well in hand.

Poppy continued her journey to the end of the ward toward her most serious burn patient, a huge man occupying three beds lashed together. Hagrid smiled when he saw her, before remembering that it hurt to move any part of his body. She soothed him with a calming charm and began gently removing a portion of bandage to apply the cooling salve.

After working quietly for some time, she tucked the final piece of Hagrid’s extensive bandages neatly in place. He had fallen into a peaceful doze. Nurse Pomfrey smoothed his sheets and rose, taking in the scene of the busy ward.

Despite her weariness, Poppy had to smile. A light breeze moved in through the tall windows, and she brushed a strand of silvering hair from her face. Breathing in the scent of spring, she felt the warmth of magic and gratitude rising within her.

And some art to finish: Frog, Paper, Scissors, Marietta/Millicent, Draco/Viktor, NC-17. This is a gorgeously playful, happy piece that's also very pretty.

In my recs, I've linked to the stories and artworks that appealed most to me personally; if none of these take your fancy, you could do worse than check out the masterlist (anonymous for now), which offers a huge variety of pairings, genres and story lengths for every taste.

This entry was originally posted at http://lyras.dreamwidth.org/74989.html. You can comment there using Open ID.

Recs: HP Beholder part III

lyras — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:36:34 GMT

[Crossposting from Dreamwidth seems to be down, so I'm reposting this manually. Apologies if you see it twice.]

A few more of my favourites from the last week or so of posting:

1. Fallow Fields (Pomona Sprout/Severus Snape, R, 20,000 words). Summary: Series of behind-the-scenes moments between Pomona, Severus & a few others.

Wait, come back! If your eyes glazed over when you saw the pairing and wordcount, please give this story another try. It's one of the best of the fest, IMO, written with emotional delicacy and a quiet intensity that makes the words fly by. This is a wonderful Pomona, capable, confident and kind - the perfect woman, in other words, to pick up and heal a lame duck like Severus Snape. But it isn't quite that simple, because Severus has plenty to offer in return. This story follows them from an inauspicious beginning through nearly two decades of interaction, never forgetting the influences and effects of the broader social canvas.

As he reached to reseal it, Pomona froze, suddenly noticing the dark smudge on that arm whose details could now more easily be made out - a hideous skull's mouth from which a snake protruded. Her mouth went dry at the sight and she fought to swallow, unable to tear her eyes away from it.

"Want a better look?"

In her horrified fascination, she had not seen Severus notice her, and she started as he stepped up now, a scowl on his face as he held his bared, now clean arm, in front of her face.

"I'd prefer it if people asked, instead of sneaking about hoping to catch a glimpse," he muttered darkly. His tone and expression made him seem older, dangerous.

Pomona blinked, suddenly feeling vexed.

"And I'd prefer it if people didn't assume I sneak about in my own greenhouses," she snapped back, satisfied to see him look momentarily startled. "I'd come in to check on the state of the potatoes with eye-lice, young man, and you are the one intruding in my domain, not the other way around."

He considered this and seemed to relax. He suddenly realised he was still holding his bared arm out to her and she was intrigued to see him blush, before pulling his arm back to him. He held it, she noted, against his chest as if it pained him.

"Does it hurt?"

He frowned, before looking down at his arm. Snape shook his head.

"Well, it doesn't bother me," she asserted quite truthfully now. "Just looks like an unfortunate choice of tattoos."

This said, she turned from him and headed toward the corner of the greenhouse where the afflicted potatoes waited.

She did not have to check behind her to know he stood watching her, flustered and uncertain, a callow young man once again and not a dangerous Death Eater.

The story is posted on Dreamwidth due to length; if you enjoy, please pop back to the IJ post to let the author know.

2. A Dictionary of Silence (Alastor Moody/Remus Lupin, 2,500 words, R. Summary: Moody is a man of few words, but he has a hundred varieties of silence.

This is a lovely portrait of two damaged men finding a kind of fulfilment with each other.

Moody's mug is half empty already. Remus watches him take another swig, face impassive except for that constantly spinning eye.

He ought to make conversation, but everything they have in common is about the Order and James and Lily and Harry and Peter and don't mention Sirius, which is still so raw that he aches with it. His throat closes up.

There's a whizz and then a bang outside, the sound of fireworks, and a few of the customers look up. Moody scowls.

"Seen enough explosions for a lifetime," he mutters.

It's true. In the week since James and Lily died there have been fireworks every night. Remus has been startled awake by the noise, still nerved to expect hostile spells.

"Yes," he says, voice rasping.

After the fireworks subside the silence doesn't feel so awkward. When Moody finishes his pint he walks to the bar and returns with two tankards. Once they drink those, Remus buys a round. It's not companionable, exactly, but it's better than being alone.

3. Two Capable Women (Irma Pince/Minerva McGonagall, R, 6,700 words). Summary: A great many dreadful things have befallen the Hogwarts staff over the years, but the motivational training by Wilberforce (Bertie) Arbuthnot counts among the worst. However, Irma and Minerva rise to the occasion with the fortitude one may expect of two very capable women.

The author's tongue is firmly in cheek throughout this excellent story, a tale of Gryffindor derring-do and Slytherin cunning in which the Hogwarts professors face their greatest challenge yet: the motivational training instructor.

They were simply born to be best friends.

Everyone said so.

Repeatedly and emphatically.

It did no good at all.

“Irma’s mother and I have been very close ever since our own school days, and I recommend her most strongly,” said Muriel Prewett, Chairwoman of the Hogwarts Board. “She’ll not only be an excellent addition to the staff; she’ll make a very suitable friend for you, Minerva.

“It’s important to have good friends, especially for an unmarried woman. Now for me, it was easy. I have always played my part in Society, and a rather prominent part too, if I say so myself. But for someone in your position – a schoolteacher’s life is so much more restricted – Irma will be a godsend. Mark my words.”

Muriel Prewett had clearly given the matter much careful thought.

“Irma Pince?” said Poppy when Minerva gave her a summary of the latest Board Meeting in which the words ‘infuriating’, ‘meddlesome’, and ‘busybody’ figured rather prominently. “Yes, I remember her well. She was several years above me – a Slytherin. Frightfully clever. Always with her nose in a book. Never mind Muriel Prewett; I can assure you you’ll enjoy meeting Irma, really, you will.”

When a professional reassurer such as Healer Pomfrey sets to work, she deserves to succeed. It wasn’t her fault that she didn’t.

4. And some art to finish: Constant Vigilance (Sybill Trelawney/Alastor Moody, NC-17). Summary: Sybill entertains a guest and Alastor finds that, once again, constant vigilance pays off. I love how happy both characters look in this!

Recs: HP Beholder part II

lyras — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:53:24 GMT

More excellent stuff at HP Beholder, the fest that puts overlooked and unloved characters in the spotlight.

The Vultures of Love, 13,000 words, Severus/Minerva, Irma Pince/Argus Filch, PG-13. My summary: Severus's family worries prompt him to confide in Minerva. Meanwhile, Hogwarts has a new librarian, and Argus Filch approves.

This was my gift, but I promise you I'm not reccing it out of politeness. It's simply a great read, from first to last, with four curmudgeonly protagonists who nevertheless possess a certain charm. I won't go into too much detail about the plot, because it's too much fun to spoil, but I will say it's a very quick read for 13,000 words, another testament to the author's skill.

"No," said Severus, grabbing her hand. "No, not you. I didn't mean it like that." He pressed the back of her hand to his lips.

"I know, Severus, it's quite all right," said Minerva. "Slips of the tongue do happen, and it would be foolish of me to expect otherwise. I understand."

"No, you don't," said Severus, propping himself up on his elbow and cupping her face in his hand. "It's not your age. Everyone younger than you is an idiot. You don't make me think of my mum. The exact opposite." He kissed her, then rolled over and flopped back into the pillow. "I meant... my actual mum. I went to see her yesterday, in that fucking hovel. Where she's going to stay, even though she doesn't have to, just because of my bloody father. It doesn't matter that he's bloody dead, she says she's going to rot there, and she will, so pathetically grateful for a few relics of our world in that horrid place."

"Oh," said Minerva faintly. "Your father's died, Severus? I'm so sorry, I--"

"I'm not." Severus turned towards her, his eyes glittering in the dark. "The man was a bloody waste of food, and seeing him put into the ground was one of the best moments of my life. Only she won't leave." He reached out and stroked Minerva's ribcage, from between her breasts down to her navel. "I was going to get her out of there, when I was young. When I'd made something of myself with the Dark Lord. Her family wouldn't have her back, but I was going to be somebody, and bring her back, where that Muggle prick she married could never touch her. I didn't expect her to be grateful, but at least she wouldn't be there. Only I never did, and I never will, will I."

Minerva took a deep, steadying breath. "All things considered," she said, with a forced lightness, "I think that if the alternative is pillow talk about You-Know-Who, I would prefer uncharitable references to my age."

"I didn't," protested Severus.

Minerva put a finger to his lips to silence him, and the rested her hands on his rather bony shoulders while she considered what to do with the boy's unexpected confessions. "Your mother has to make her own choices, Severus," she said at last.

"She's bloody awful at it so far," muttered Snape. Minerva, quite charitably she thought, did not comment on any family resemblance when it came to making regrettable alliances at the age of eighteen.

Read more here: The Vultures of Love.

A Cliff in July, Marietta Edgecombe/Millicent Bulstrode, 5,000 words, R. Summary: A chance meeting at a remote Muggle hotel, the summer when everything changes.

This beautiful story of two canon misfits has stuck in my mind since I read it a fortnight ago.

They run into each other again the morning after, on their way to breakfast. Their eyes meet, quickly; then both glance away, then back. "Hi," Marietta says, trying not to be too awkward. Millicent nods back. A corner of her mouth moves; it's as good as a smile.

"Is this a friend of yours, Marietta?" her mother asks, looking between them. Of course yes and no are both the wrong answer - the two of them barely know each other - but Millicent introduces herself, shakes hands with Marietta's mother and says, "We go to school together. Or went."

"Oh!" Marietta's mother looks at her knowingly, curiously. "Well, won't you sit with us, then? I'm sure I know who your parents are."

She probably does, that's the worst part. More talk of the Ministry and Hogwarts, in veiled terms so that the Muggles won't be alarmed. Marietta slouches behind them on the way to a free table as her mother interrogates Millicent on her family, their professions, their connections. Every word pulls them back into their world, the world Marietta has grown up in, the world she belongs to, the world she longs to escape, if only for the summer. She wishes she were far away, on the other side of the world. She wishes Millicent were not here. She wishes Millicent hadn't met her mother.

But she notices the way Millicent twitches under her mother's questions, the way her eyes keep darting away, the way her answers are polite but brief, not revealing more than strictly necessary.

"And you are starting your last year in September?" Marietta's mother asks, pouring tea for all of them. Millicent nods.

"Hmm." Marietta's mother lifts her cup to her mouth. There's a line on her brow. "I do hope everything will turn out all right, my dear." She sighs. "To be honest, I'm glad Marietta is safely out of there."

"Mother!" Marietta whispers, casting a look at Millicent, who is staring down into her cup of tea. "Millicent is in Slytherin."

Her mother's mouth opens in an oh. Her cheeks grow pink. She clears her throat. "Well, that is to say... I'm sure there's nothing to worry about. For you."

Millicent looks up at that. "It's all right," she says, voice toneless. "I'm worried too." Her eyes seem to harden. "The alternative would be worse."

Marietta looks at her mother, whose cheeks are still pink. "Well," her mother says. "Let's not worry too early, at any rate." Her smile is shaky. "Perhaps things will still sort themselves out."

Millicent nods, but her gaze is hanging at Marietta's face. Marietta does not meet her eyes.

Read more: A Cliff in July.

To finish, have some sweet artwork of Molly and Arthur: Strong and Stubborn Love (PG-13). I love the way the artist has extrapolated from the middleaged characters we know and reimagined them as teenagers.

This entry was originally posted at http://lyras.dreamwidth.org/74262.html. You can comment there using Open ID.

Recs: HP Beholder

lyras — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:00:28 GMT

My favourite fest, hp_beholder, is now going strong and has already featured oft-overlooked and unloved characters like Marietta Edgecombe, Millicent Bulstrode, Aberforth Dumbledore and Filius Flitwick. Here are a couple of my favourites from the first week of posting:

Run with the Pack, rated R, 5,000 words, Sirius Black/Aberforth Dumbledore. Summary: When Albus said he had seen a stray dog around the village and to leave him out scraps, Aberforth knew right away that there was no way that dog was simply a stray.

Oh yes, oh yes! This story features a very strong Aberforth voice, jaded and cynical, but just open enough for the old hurts to come through. Pair him with a Sirius who's still on the run during GoF and you have a wonderful set-up for a fic, which the author delivers on perfectly. The gradual coming together of the two characters, both outcasts, both starved of human contact, is beautifully done; each is a perfect foil for the other, but more importantly, each understands the other because they've both endured such great pain.

A little taster for you:

After Voldemort vanished, Aberforth had a hard time believing Sirius was responsible for those murders. But then he remembered that anger. Anger could drive you to complete madness.

Albus claimed now Sirius was innocent. Albus claimed whatever was convenient for him to claim, and so Aberforth hadn't thought much about it.

Aberforth looked down the corridor leading to the back expectantly, and suddenly there he was. Emerging from the shadows once again but as a man, not a dog, and still acting as if he owned the place. He smirked at Aberforth as he strode to the bar. Aberforth was careful to watch him with an expressionless face.

His robes were filthy but his hair was not the matted mess from his wanted posters. It was short, as it had been when he was a boy, and he was still handsome, but something in his looks had changed. Like a person trying to regain health after a long illness.

He sat down on the stool right on the other side of the bar from where Aberforth stood. There was no longer anger in his eyes; it had been replaced with sadness. Aberforth knew a lot about sadness as well.

Run with the Pack on IJ - or read it here on LJ.

A Life of High Adventure, PG, 4000 words, Molly/Arthur. Summary: Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Molly Prewett who dreamed of a life of high adventure.

This is tagged Molly/Arthur, and the romance is lovely, but I'm tempted to class it as a gen piece about Molly because, really, that's who it's about. Again, the story has a very strong voice - a rather sweet, fairytale one albeit with lines of steel running through it, just as they do through Molly herself.

I've never seen this take on Molly before: that she comes from a much richer family than the one she marries into, and the pressures that this might impose on her as she grows up. I don't know that I really buy the whole pureblood class thing that many fans enjoy exploring (and fair play to them), but it works very well for this story, adding an extra dimension to the difficulties that we already know are in store for Molly and Arthur.

Excerpt:

Either way, it’s a deep relief to be back at school, though she misses Gideon and Fabian terribly. And it is puzzling that Arthur hasn’t been more... noticeable until just now. He dances as naturally as a bird flies at the Yule Ball and she doesn’t even care that he’s wearing a set of dress robes that belonged to Gideon - they look just perfect on him.

And when he kisses her under the mistletoe...

Eventually someone tells them they’re blocking traffic and will you please bloody well move?

And they do.

Not to the Astronomy Tower, but to the stacks of the quiet library, where Molly decides that either kissing gets less credit than deserved, Christmas pudding is an aphrodisiac, or Arthur is quite marvellous at it. Subsequent returns to the library prove that it is actually Arthur.

There isn't enough Molly-and-Arthur fic in the world, but this is a lovely addition to the genre. Read it here on IJ or here on LJ.

And if you enjoy either of those, please comment to let the authors know!

This entry was originally posted at http://lyras.dreamwidth.org/74126.html. You can comment there using Open ID.

Loyaulte me lie

lyras — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:41:17 GMT

I have been getting quite ridiculously emotional over this.

The Channel 4 documentary last night was fascinating - so much science! DNA! Facial reconstruction! And I got to be a history geek and explain lots of stuff to my (sceptical) flatmate. Although I could have done without the programme making all the random internet Ricardians look like obsessive weirdos. Um.

Anyway, I've been flailing about and enjoying all the silly macros (not so much the hunchback jokes), and generally loving the fact that Richard III is suddenly in the public eye again.

And we know where he is, and that's amazing.

This entry was originally posted at http://lyras.dreamwidth.org/73250.html. You can comment there using Open ID.

Three recs make a post

lyras — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 18:31:11 GMT

Harry Potter:

Long live all the magic we made, Neville/Ginny, 1805 words, PG. Summary: A student asks him once, "Are you married?"

This just hits all my angst buttons at once, in such a beautiful, quiet fashion.

In a Cold Kitchen in Surrey, Petunia/Severus, 4,300 words, NC-17. Summary: Petunia and Snape grieve for Lily together.

Yes, Petunia/Snape, and it's nearly as fucked up as you'd imagine - but really, this story is about Petunia, and it's a moving, rounded, unflinching portrait of a character who has always been hard to like. With some seriously excellent writing thrown in as a bonus.

ETA: And a quick art rec: Our Autumn by mashach on DevArt. I think it's James/Lily going by the hair, but I suppose it could be Harry/Ginny. At any rate, it's a lovely, warm, autumnal picture.

Lord Peter Wimsey:

Untitled by nineveh_uk, Charles Parker/Lady Mary, G. Summary: Charles Parker's efforts to ask out Lady Mary for the first time.

If the two Harry Potter stories are sad, this one eases the heart in all the right ways. Light romance, but with all the knowingness and wit that makes reading good Wimseyfic such fun, and with a Charles POV that is just the right side of earnest. One of those stories I didn't know I needed until I read it.

This entry was originally posted at http://lyras.dreamwidth.org/71535.html. You can comment there using Open ID.

Request for book/fic recs

lyras — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:52:38 GMT

I am finding myself in the mood for some slightly schmoopy, sad-happy romance - sort of, girl meets boy, girl doesn't think she's good enough, boy turns out to be brilliant at making her feel good enough. Anyone have any recs? (I guess Bridget Jones and Persuasion would be the obvious ones, but I'd rather not go back and reread when there must be plenty more out there. Hmm, although I should probably reread Persuasion anyway.)

Suggestions for fic or published books welcome. Avoidance of sexism = a plus.

This entry was originally posted at http://lyras.dreamwidth.org/71267.html. You can comment there using Open ID.

lyras — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:17:17 GMT

1. I am so far behind on fandom stuff - I do apologise for any failure to respond to feedback, and I hope nobody's feeling ignored. :-/ I still have fics to post from last year's holiday fests, not to mention the various spring fests I participated in.

2. I won an award - my first ever! Thank you so much to therealsnape for pointing it out to me, as I'd have been oblivious otherwise.

The award was for best drama-angst story (I am nothing if not predictable) at the HP Fanfic Fan Poll Awards. As I said, I've been nominated before but this is the first time I've ever won an award, and it's a lovely feeling. Congratulations to all the other winners and nominees - it looks as if there was so much good stuff in the nominations for readers to investigate.

Edit: So I should probably link to the award-winning fic, yes? :p It was Into the Silence, one of several fics I still need to repost to my journal. Snape genfic, set during DH, and a story I'd been wanting to write for a while, so I'm delighted that 1) my recipient seemed to really appreciate it and 2) readers in general seem to like it enough to give it an award. Thank you so much to anyone who voted/nominated.

3. I recced genfic at crack_broom in July; I'll try and get around to reposting the recs here, but in the meantime please feel free to check out the gen tag over at the comm.

4. Something else I'm excited about: I am about to become an editor at my favourite newsletter, quibbler_report! It's probably only going to be for a few months, but QR has been my happy place since my early days in fandom, and I'm so happy to be a part of it for a little while. With any luck, I'll be posting my first issue on Wednesday.

This entry was originally posted at http://lyras.dreamwidth.org/71022.html. You can comment there using Open ID.

Hiatus

lyras — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 09:18:13 GMT

Just making this official - I've recently turned my life upside down (literally :p), so am taking a break from LJ/DW until I get myself settled. All is good, and you can contact me via the address on my profile if you need or want to do so.

Take care, all. <3

This entry was originally posted at http://lyras.dreamwidth.org/70161.html. You can comment there using Open ID.

Takingitinturns

lyras — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 21:48:06 GMT

While I've been dashing around trying to roll up my life, takingitinturns has been rolling along, producing lots of lovely Harry/Ginny fic for us all.

1. My gift is here and it's fabulous: One Small Difference, by snuggle_muggle, PG-13, 9,600 words.

Ginny wakes up in a world in which everything is different. Instead of being married to Harry and pregnant with their third child, she is in a place where Harry has been dead for years and Death Eaters are running the country. Trying to figure out what's happened, she realises that it comes down to one small difference in her own life.

The worldbuilding is very strong in this alternate universe; snuggle_muggle paints a dark picture with a few deft brushstrokes, but it isn't all dark. Certain Weasleys are no longer dead, for example. The author does a great job of showing Ginny's conflicted emotions as she tries to navigate this new world and find her way back to the old one.

I loved it, and it's a great read.

2. Oh, and I wrote a story, too: The Affair of the Wedding, PG, 3,000 words, in which Lily's wedding to Scorpius is bringing the Potters and the Malfoys together whether they like it or not. I had fun with this and I hope you do, too, if you read. :)

3. Also, a quick rec for a story that was posted right at the beginning of the fest and was perhaps a little overlooked for that reason: They Tell Me by luna_plath, R, 1,800 words. Author's summary: He’d brushed his fingers over her spine, lightly touching her naked back, thinking that maybe this was what people called closure.

This is a gorgeous take on a postwar Harry who is healing but not quite there (if he ever will be). It's quiet, a little sad but also hopefull, and the way luna_plath portrays the relationship between Harry and Ginny is just beautiful.

4. I'm going on holiday this evening. Anyone want to throw me some recs for stuff I can put on my kindle? Preferably posted on AO3 (for ease of conversion); the longer and plottier the better. :)

This entry was originally posted at http://lyras.dreamwidth.org/70072.html. You can comment there using Open ID.

Game of Thrones

lyras — Mon, 28 May 2012 23:23:45 GMT

I don't think I've talked about it here, but I am really loving the second series of Game of Thrones. We watched the first series in one big gulp, and it's kind of fun to be waiting anxiously for a new episode each week this time around. It's about six years since I read the books, which is probably why I don't really care about any of the changes they've made, and am just flailing at how much fun (and grimdark, and pretty) everything is.

I heart so many of the characters; I've been loving Sansa this series, but woo, Cersei really came into her own in the last episode, didn't she? Drunk and bitter and so very, nastily human.

I knew about The National song thanks to the magic of YouTube, but holy shit, what a perfect song to end this episode, and for the Lannisters. I was all ready to get on YT and show the boyfriend the song, and then there it was.

I missed Arya (♥ ♥ ♥) and Jon and Robb, and everyone else (Jaime and Brienne, finally!) in this episode, but it made sense to have the whole thing be about Kings Landing and the battle. Tyrion was wonderful, of course - and I love how good all the peripheral characters are, people like Lancel, and Davos's son. Joffrey is mostly just terrifying, but I thought Jack Gleeson did such a good job with him in this episode. His face when the Hound said, "Fuck the king"!

And that scene at the end with Cersei and Tommmen, OMG. Laying the angst on with a trowel, obviously, but even though I knew she wasn't going to do it I was still holding my breath.

In short: roll on next week, and roll on the next series.

(No spoilers for Dance with Dragons, please!)

This entry was originally posted at http://lyras.dreamwidth.org/68918.html. You can comment there using Open ID.

Recs

lyras — Thu, 24 May 2012 01:15:48 GMT

I've been very remiss in pointing out some gift fics I've received recently, so here they are. First of all my hp_beholder gift is a beautiful story of Arthur and the entire Weasley family coming to terms with their loss just after Deathly Hallows: Burrowing, 3,000 words, rated PG/Teen. It's such a convincing look at how they all might react. Just lovely.

Then there was Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect at springtime_gen, which has one of the best first lines I've read in ages: Over a month had passed, but Hogwarts still smelled of blood and dust and smoke. It's a fabulous look at the rebuilding of Hogwarts, focusing on Minerva McGonagall's point of view, but with appearances from many other staff and pupils.

Unfortunately I haven't had a huge amount of time to read at either fest, but while I'm here, have a few more recs for stories I've enjoyed:

The Bucket List of one Hermione Granger is a warm, ostensibly light-hearted look at post-war Hermione with some serious undertones. Hermione is trying to plan her future life - while also dealing with what she's done to her parents in the past.

Primrose Path brings to life the world of the Death Eaters without ever glorifying their choices. Each character brings a different point of view, until the story winds up with a chilling look inside Bellatrix's mind. It's short, sharp and perfectly executed.

Homecoming is another Minerva-and-Neville story, which seems pretty popular this year, a development I am completely in favour of. I particularly liked this one because it's short but very full, with lots of interesting insights into both characters.

The Bow That Is Stable is one of those treats of a story that sheds light on various characters, in this case through the lens of parenthood. While Ron, Fleur, Angelina, Draco and Harry and others deal with their children (and in the case of Teddy, his parents), the author paints a full picture of life in the next-generation wizarding world. The story is gorgeous, detailed, occasionally heart-wrenching and ultimately hopeful.

Chosen and Accepted, Andromeda Tonks/Augusta Longbottom, rated PG. This story draws on parallels I'd never really considered between the two women's lives and dresses it up beautifully in a moving, understated story.

One More for the Road, Sirius/Rosmerta, rated R. A lovely story that plunges us straight into the hectic atmosphere of the first war against Voldemort, with Sirius discovering unexpected benefits of doing a favour for his mate.

Fire in the Deep, Grey Lady/Bloody Baron, rated PG-13. I am a tiny bit ambivalent about reccing this, because, well, nothing can excuse the Bloody Baron's crime. This story does not do that, but it does provide a context and a possible explanation, which is something that I feel needs to be done with care. It also contains some of the most beautiful writing I've come across recently; I could roll around in the prose (and maybe if I did that for long enough I'd assimilate some of the author's writing ability).

I'll finish with a gorgeous piece of art that made me grin: Time Traveler, in which Arthur Weasley travels back in time and encounters Helga Hufflepuff. It's G-rated and so very pretty!

If you enjoyed any of these, please do let the writers and artist know. <3

This entry was originally posted at http://lyras.dreamwidth.org/68676.html. You can comment there using Open ID.

Recs and nomination thanks

lyras — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 23:33:38 GMT

Couple of recs from the always wonderful hp_beholder fest:

The Chelmsford List - Stan Shunpike/Mundungus Fletcher, R, 5,860 words. Author's summary: "Baffling Prison Escape + Wizards = Not Really All That Baffling. That's why this isn't an escape story. But it does involve wizards and prisons."

I'm nicking magnetic_pole's word for this: it's a brilliantly stylish fic about two dodgy wizards and what happens when they end up doing time together in a Muggle prison. It's appropriately gruff, hilarious and a little sweet. If you read, you will enjoy.

Adamantine - Millicent/Hooch, PG-13, 7,600 words. Author's summary: "St Mungos is turning people away and there are dozens of bodies heaped in the Hogsmeade cemetery, but it's not until Harry Potter dies that people start panicking."

If you enjoy a good dystopia (and I do), then this is for you. We know from the opening line that 1) this is not going to be a happy story and 2) we are in good hands. Millicent and Madam Hooch are the only two people left at Hogwarts with immunity to a disease that's sweeping wizarding Britain. With students and staff falling ill every day, Hogwarts is hanging by a thread, and various characters have to make some gut-wrenching choices. The supporting cast (particularly Pansy) is well-drawn, and the story is very well executed.

There are lots of other stories that I have my eye on over there, too, whenever I have a moment.

Secondly, a couple of my stories have been nominated for an award at hpfanficfanpoll (in the drama/angst category - LOL @ self for being so predictable). Because I fail at life at the moment, I haven't posted either story here yet, but you can read them at these links if you're interested:

Into the Silence, Snape, gen, PG-13, 5,500 words. Summary: Severus's year as headmaster of Hogwarts presents many challenges. Acceptance is the greatest of them all.

The Survivors, Petunia/Severus, NC-17, 3,900 words, WARNING for coercion and non-con. Summary: In the aftermath of Lily's death, Petunia's life is falling apart -- until Severus Snape turns up offering help. But Severus has his own reasons, and Petunia has never understood magic.

Thank you so much to whoever nominated these stories! I see I'm in good company in that category, too. *eyes xylodemon and pale_moonlite*

This entry was originally posted at http://lyras.dreamwidth.org/67906.html. You can comment there using Open ID.

Remixes and more

lyras — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:13:28 GMT

1. Remix has gone live, and as usual it's fascinating to see what someone has done with my stories! In this case, the writer picked up on a section in my Harry/Ginny story, Pilgrimage, which dealt with Harry encountering Petunia again, and expanded it to give us Petunia's viewpoint. Most of you know that I am fascinated by Petunia, and I really enjoyed my remixer's take on her. You can read it here - it's short, and all the HP story hit numbers are looking very forlorn, so do give it a try if it sounds interesting to you!

*In a huge coincidence, I was thinking about this very story the day before Remix, deciding that it's probably my favourite of my own H/G stories. Was I picking up some vibes from my remixer, perhaps? *g*

2. If anyone correctly identifies the story I wrote I will eat my hat (or at least, write you a drabble). Feel free to guess in the comments.

3. Does anyone feel like beta-reading a 7000-wordish gen story?

4. Comments screened for the purposes of items 2 and 3.

5. I am kind of failing at life at the moment. Sorry. :-/ Should be back soonish.

This entry was originally posted at http://lyras.dreamwidth.org/67641.html. You can comment there using Open ID.

lyras — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:51:39 GMT

I am in the UK, and I don't want to go home. That is all.

PS: Hope those of you in this part of the world are enjoying the sunshine!

This entry was originally posted at http://lyras.dreamwidth.org/67428.html. You can comment there using Open ID.

Timeline: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

lyras — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 04:47:39 GMT

I ended up making a timeline for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in order to get events straight for some of the stories I wrote last November and December. (I know there are other timelines out there. I'm just anal-retentive.) Writing it up for my own reference, and in the hope that it may be of use to others.

There isn't a lot to go on in several places, but some dates are pleasingly specific.

July:

[date unknown:] Charity Burbage writes Prophet article and is picked up by Death Eaters. "Resigns".

In the week before chapter one: Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks marry.

Mid-July: Snape says (correctly) that Harry will be moved on "Saturday next". Yaxley says he has Thicknesse under Imperius. Floo Network is monitored. Voldemort takes Lucius Malfoy's wand. Charity Burbage is murdered.

Harry sees Aberforth Dumbledore in mirror. The Dursleys leave. Voldemort tortures Ollivander and learns about Gregorovitch.

26 July or earlier: Harry moves to The Burrow. Mad-Eye is killed; his body (and eye) disappears. Hedwig is killed. George loses an ear. Harry meets Ted and Andromeda.

27-28 July: Mrs Weasley keeps Harry, Ron and Hermione busy.

28 July: Harry tells Ginny that he has to kill Voldemort.

29 July: Hermione and Ron tell Harry their measures to protect their families.

30 July: The Delacours arrive.

31 July: Harry's birthday. Ginny: "There's the silver lining I've been looking for." Charlie arrives. Scrimgeour comes with Arthur Weasley; Remus and Tonks (Remus looking v. unhappy - Tonks is pregnant?) run away. Scrimgeour give sHarry, Ron and Hermione the snitch, Beedle book and deluminator.

August:

01 August: Wedding. Fall of the Ministry of Magic. Scrimgeour murdered. A tracking jinx is put on "Voldemort". Harry, Ron and Hermione go to 12 Grimmauld Place. Death Eaters search The Burrow. Dedalus Diggle's house is burned. The Cruciatus curse is used on "Tonks's family".

02 August: Harry finds Lily's letter and RAB. "Kreacher's Tale". Harry sends Kreacher to find Mundungus. Pius Thicknesse is named Minister for Magic.

04 August: Two Death Eaters start keeping watch on 12GP. Remus Lupin comes to 12GP. Harry is "wanted for questioning", according to the Prophet. A register of Muggle-borns is being set up. Remus says Tonks is pregnant.

Kreacher reappears with Dung, who says Umbridge has the locket.

Late August: Severus Snape confirmed as headmaster of Hogwarts.

Voldemort kills a woman and probably her family in ?Germany, looking for Gregorovitch.

Next day: Harry, Ron and Hermione break into the Ministry.

Camping. Ron is splinched. Yaxley can get into 12GP. Ron stops them saying Voldemort's name. Voldemort kills Gregorovitch and sees the memory of Grindelwald stealing the Elder Wand.

Next morning: Harry, Ron and Hermione move to "outskirts of a small market town". Dementors are there. Harry can't cast a Patronus, because of the locket. They move again, to a "far-flung field belonging to a lonely farm".

Dirk Cresswell escapes Dawlish on the way to Azkaban.

Ginny, Neville and Luna steal the (fake) sword. Two days later, it's sent to Gringotts.

Endless camping. "Weeks". Autumn. Fallen leaves. Ted runs for it. Xeno Lovegood is printing all the stuff that the Prophet is ignoring. Harry, Ron and Hermione overhear Griphook, Gornuk, Ted, Dean and Dirk. Ron leaves, and runs into a group of snatchers.

Next day: Harry and Hermione move to a "windswept, heather-covered hillside".

Next few days: Misery.

"Many evenings": Snape facing "constant, low-level mutiny from a hard core of students." Ginny banned from Hogsmeade. Gatherings of three or more students forbidden.

"The weather grew colder and colder": Christmas trees appearing.

Around 17 December: Luna is taken off the train by Death Eaters.

24 December: Christmas Eve. Harry and Hermione go to Godric's Hollow. Voldemort follows and finds photograph of Grindelwald.

Ron leaves Shell Cottage.

25 December: Christmas Day. Harry comes to. He and Hermione read about Dumbledore's history with Grindelwald in Skeeter's book.

26 December: [early morning] Harry and Hermione move to the Forest of Dean.

[night] Harry keeps watch. The Silver Doe.

27 December: Trio again!

[evening] Hermione says they need to visit Xeno Lovegood.

28 December: The trio visit Xeno Lovegood. Harry realises about the snitch.

29 December: They move on again.

January, February

Rain "through the whole week".

"weeks crept on"

March, April:

[Late in the month, because events move swiftly from finding Potterwatch to Malfoy Manor; by the time they reach Shell Cottage, Bill is talking about all the Weasleys going into hiding and how it's a good thing Ginny's already on easter holidays; the easter holidays would've been around 29 Mar - 12 April:] Ron finds Potterwatch. Ted Tonks, Dirk Cresswell and Gornuk reported dead. Dean and Griphook escape. Xeno Lovegood is reported imprisoned. Hagrid on the run after throwing a "support Harry Potter party".

Harry says "Voldemort". Snatchers. Malfoy Manor. Voldemort kills Grindelwald. Bellatrix kills Dobby.

Next morning: Harry talks to Griphook and Ollivander. Weasleys go into hiding. Voldemort sends Snape back to the castle and claims the Elder Wand from Dumbledore's tomb.

"Next few days"

"Days stretched into weeks"

Ollivander goes to Muriel's. Teddy Lupin is born.

May

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Griphook go to Gringotts. From there, Harry, Ron and Hermione go to Hogsmeade. Battle of Hogwarts. (This is all in one day, stretching into early morning on the following day.)

Harry/Ginny bits and bobs

lyras — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:49:34 GMT

Harry/Ginny: One of my favourite fests, takingitinturns, is returning for a fifth year very shortly! It's under new management, and this year's theme is "mirrors and reflections". As the new mods, snuggle_muggle and carrickorourke, say:

"The world of Harry Potter is full of mirrors and reflections: Literal mirrors like the Mirror of Erised and the two-way communication mirrors Sirius gave to Harry, or figurative reflections like James and Lily appearing again in the form of Harry and Ginny. Mirrors in the wizarding world are so much more than just a looking glass, they can show Harry and Ginny what was, what will be, or what they desire to bring into being. And figurative reflections can be beautiful and perfect like the identical images of Fred and George or dark and twisted like the similarities between Tom Riddle and Harry Potter."

Isn't that a wonderful theme? I can't wait to see the fic and artwork it produces.

Sign-ups start on 10 March; for more information, see the mod post here.

hg_seasonsfest is also returning for another round in the near future - it's great to see Harry/Ginny fandom still going strong! I'm looking forward to this fest, as well, and will post more details as they are released.

Finally, I recced Harry/Ginny over at crack_broom in February, and here are my recs -

1. Through This Glass Darkly by miss_daizy, 1,939 words, PG-13.

My comments: This is the kind of lush, moody writing that made me fall in love with fanfiction in the first place. But that isn't all there is to the story; miss_daizy uses the muggy postwar atmosphere to push Harry and Ginny into further personal challenges. Voldemort may be gone, but they still have their own personal demons to deal with. Give this a try if you enjoy beautiful writing and a satisfying story!

2. Steel by mute90, 2,764 words, R.

My comments: This is a much darker take on Harry than we often see in fanfiction, and it won't be to everyone's taste. But to me it's a plausible look at what his experiences might have done to Harry, and an interesting scenario set just after the war's end. The author's spare prose matches the story perfectly, and you'll see from the excerpt I posted that "spare" can still mean "beautiful".

3. Some things are best left by curia_regis, 2,200 words, PG.

My comments: Where my last rec was a darker take on Harry, this story takes a darker view of the wizarding world - or at least, of the way in which non-magical people who encounter magic are treated. It's a story in which there are no easy answers, and in which the characters are forced to make not the right choice, but the least bad one. There's a very strong Ginny viewpoint throughout, as with Harry at her side she begins understanding the morally dubious ethics of the world she's grown up in.

4. What Will Not Love Discover by pumpkinpasty, 3,000 words, PG-13.

My comments: While Harry is off hunting Horcruxes, he and Ginny find a way to communicate. That's an enticing hook, and it is backed up by the author's flawlessly evocative writing, as Harry and Ginny share stories and support during the toughest year of their lives. The emotions are ever-present, but never overdone, building to a quietly beautiful ending.

5. Art: Moments under the autumn tree by fwittney, PG.

My comments: This is a deceptively simple piece of artwork (particularly as it isn't coloured), but a closer look reveals Harry and Ginny in a variety of moments under the same tree. Each image radiates happiness and love, and the piece as a whole always makes me smile.

6. Art: Sidetracked by fbo66, R.

My comments: I should admit to a bias here, as this was my gift in the last round of smutty_claus, but that doesn't mean it isn't fabulous. The way the piece is posed, the first thing you see is Ron and Hermione (or their backs) on a picnic rug, wondering where Harry and Ginny are. Scroll to the right, and...well, I'll let you see for yourselves.

Fic: Les Jours Tristes (Luna, gen)

lyras — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:43:28 GMT

Still catching up with reposting holiday fest fics. And DW crossposting is still buggy for me, so apologies if this turns up twice on LJ!

Title: Les Jours Tristes
Author: lyras
Rating: PG-13
Character(s): Luna, Narcissa, Mr Ollivander
Warnings: None
Word count: 6,800 words
Summary: After the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Luna deals with some Wrackspurts, developing an unlikely friendship in the process.
Author's Notes: Written for igrockspock as part of hp_holidaygen, and originally posted here. The title comes from the song of the same name by Yann Tiersen. Thank you to aggiebell90 for beta-reading; all remaining errors and infelicities are my own.

Les Jours Tristes

Bookmarking sites

lyras — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 04:42:27 GMT

1. So, who is on Pinboard, and is it worth creating an account? What about other bookmarking sites - any preferred? Has Delicious rescued itself from last year's redesign fiasco?

This brought to you by my failure, yet again, to export, save or in any other way preserve my firefox and chrome bookmarks before reformatting my hard drive. *sigh*

2. Also, I am still looking for recs here if anyone's interested. :)

3. I've been mostly offline for a few days due to said reformatting of hard drive. At least I have a working laptop now! Anyway, there should be fic in a few days, now that my computer woes are sorted - but in the meantime, if you've posted fic or anything else you want me to know about, feel free to tell me.

4. Thank you for the dragons, lovely people! They're very cute.

(Apologies if this posts twice on LJ - the crossposting feature didn't work.)

Looking for recs

lyras — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 02:45:21 GMT

I'm on the hunt for two different types of stories at the moment:

1. Harry/Ginny - I'm reccing this pairing at crack_broom this month, and feeling a little low on inspiration. I was super-busy toward the end of last year, so I know I must've missed lots of good stuff. I like plotty, adventure-type stories and/or good, solid writing, set at any time of their lives. Any suggestions?

2. I'd love some recs for long, plotty epics like fernwithy's excellent Teddy Lupin stories - the kind that feel like they might be an extension of the books. There must be more out there, surely! Romance is fine, too, if there's a good plot and good writing to go along with it - one of my favourite reads last year was A Time to Remember by stmargarets. I'll read most pairings, except please no Harry/Draco, Draco/Hermione or Draco/Ginny. If you have recs for long stories in other fandoms that you know I like, feel free to share those, too. If they're on AO3, so much the better (because then I can download them to my kindle).

All recommendations welcome, and thank you in advance!

This entry was originally posted at http://lyras.dreamwidth.org/65592.html. You can comment there using Open ID.

Fic: After the Dawn (Alice Longbottom, gen) (part one of three)

lyras — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:39:58 GMT

This is part one of a story inspired by a halfamoon prompt from magnetic_pole, who asked, "What if Alice Longbottom began to recover?"

I don't generally post unfinished fic, but I did want to post this, since halfamoon ends today. The next two parts will hopefully be up by the end of the month. Thanks for such an inspiring prompt, M, and I hope you enjoy the result!

Title: After the Dawn
Characters: Alice, Frank, Neville, Augusta
Warnings: PTSD
Wordcount (this part): 1,400 words
Summary: It's hard to remember yesterday, but it didn't feel like this. One morning, Alice Longbottom wakes up.

It's a bright May morning when she wakes. The mediwitch swishes the curtains open with a cheerful, "Morning, darlin'!" and the sunlight opens her up. She smiles at the mediwitch, fumbles for a name and comes up blank. But no -- there it is on the front of her robes. "Thank you, Mary," she says.

The mediwitch blinks and smiles back. "You're very welcome, Alice."

Alice. She tries on the name and finds that it fits. There was a book -- isn't there a book? -- about a girl called Alice. In her mind, she conjures an image of a girl in an old-fashioned blue robe -- or not a robe, exactly. Anyway, a girl in blue, who follows a rabbit and discovers a world of strangeness and wonder.

Mary draws the curtain on the other side of the cubicle, unveiling the man who lives next door. Alice blinks, and the girl in blue is gone.

"Morning, love," Mary tells the man, and he frowns at her.

"Good morning," he says uncertainly. She smiles and is off about her business.

Alice sits up and watches the sunlight sliding across the linoleum squares. Black to grey, white to cream, until gold light laps her bed and she registers the odd feeling that has engulfed her. Peace.

It's hard to remember yesterday, but it didn't feel like this. Leaning on her pillows to ease her back, she closes her eyes and basks in the peace, waiting for the sun to warm her toes.

Alice-in-Blue runs through a garden vibrant with flowers, her nose filled with the scent of countless herbs. Alice doesn't know their names, but Alice-in-Blue does. Smiling, Alice drifts back into a doze.

A trolley clatters and Alice opens her eyes. Mary is back with breakfast.

"Toast and marmalade." She plonks a plate onto the little table and slides it over the bed. There's an outburst of laughter from the office where the medistaff gather, and Mary grins. "Don't you worry about them," she says. "They're a bit wild this morning -- we had some good news. Wonderful news, actually, and it's just been confirmed. Nothing that you need to worry about, though." She pours tea and places it in the groove on the table. "We'll still take good care of you, whoever's in charge of the country. I imagine Augusta and Neville will be along..." Her face goes blank. "I mean -- well, let's hope everyone's all right, shall we?" With a vague wave, she moves on.

Alice exchanges nervous glances with the man next door as she reaches for the toast. Augusta and Neville. The names mean nothing, but they must be two of the people who come in to see them occasionally. The two who come most often? An old lady and a boy. But why did Mary break off like that?

Augusta. Neville. The names set off flashes of warmth in her mind, but no images. With a shrug, she reaches for the cold toast.

Just like that, Alice-in-Blue is laughing at a man across the table, a tiny warm weight in her arm. The baby is feeding; she can feel the odd tickly sensation that she still isn't used to as her body provides him with nourishment.

With her free hand, Alice-in-Blue plucks a piece of toast from her plate and takes a big bite. The baby looks up, suspicious, and she nudges him. "I'm still here, gorgeous. Mum needs sustenance, too, you know." Gently, she shifts so that the baby's mouth is lined up with her nipple, and he takes the hint.

Across the table, the man is reading snippets of news aloud. Alice-in-Blue listens as best she can while crunching down some toast and offering asides to the baby. Alice-in-Blue is alert; she's been trained that way. Alice-in-Blue is a mother of the sweetest little boy in the world. Alice-in-Blue is married to a man with soft, curling brown hair and a sleepy smile...

Alice-in-Blue is married to the man in the next bed.

She doesn't have to look. He's older, yes, and his lustrous hair is thinning, but it's the same smile, all right. Alice-in-Blue. The man next door.

Now she looks. The way he hunches over his tea triggers more memories, and there's no doubt. He is Alice-in-Blue's husband.

She studies him, noting the gentle curve of his lips and the neat pyjama top. Much neater than her own. She watches him eat breakfast and tries to remember aging with him. Tries to know his first grey hair; summons mornings on which they set off to work together; imagines waving off that little baby on his first trip to Hogwarts.

She gains a few more pictures at the expense of a headache. Alice-in-Blue steals covert glances at a boy at the next table; a second of anticipation before he kisses her behind a pub; his knowing smile as he eyes her across the dining hall. But nothing after the breakfast memory, or at least, nothing in which she can be sure that they are older.

She rubs her temples. She ought to ask someone for a pain potion, but no staff are visible, although there's still a commotion in the office. Not everybody is happy; one of the mediwitches hurries from the office to the main door, scrubbing at her eyes.

Something has clearly happened to the world. But something has happened to Alice, as well. She pulls on a robe and edges over to her chair. It's easier to think out of bed.

Alice-in-Blue is -- or was -- married to the man in the next bed. Alice has decided that she must be Alice-in-Blue; there's no other explanation. They were married and they had a baby.

Where is her baby?

Trying to bring up more memories exacerbates her headache and brings with it a queer, shaky sensation that she belatedly identifies as fear. A passing mediwizard halts beside her, then bends without touching her.

"Breathe," he says gently. "Slowly, that's right. In..." He takes a loud, slow breath with her, counting off seconds on his fingers. "And out. And in. And out. All right?"

She nods. Her fear still lurks in the corners of the cubicle -- she can almost hear its cruel laughter -- but at least it's no longer inside her.

"Just keep breathing," he advises, and smiles. "I suspect you and Frank'll have some visitors soon."

You and Frank. So she's right. Alice-in-Blue and Frank were married. Alice and Frank are here. What happened to our baby? What happened to us?

Pain stabs her temple and the mediwizard's smile melts away. "I'll get you a potion," he says, and she wants to protest, afraid that a potion would dampen her newfound clarity. But her brain feels as if it's splitting inside her skull, and other aches are spreading down her neck and shoulders, crunching her spine and knotting her stomach. The terror rises up her gorge and she barely hears the mediwizard calling for back-up. Alice is all pain and terror, and she'll never be safe, never, never, nevernevernevernevernevernevernever...

Alice wakes to anxious faces ringing her cubicle: the old lady, the boy, and the man next door. He smiles slowly, anxiously, and she remembers: Alice-in-Blue, and Frank (Frank-next-door), and the toast, and the baby.

Before she can attempt words, the old lady is speaking. "I hope you're feeling better, Alice, dear." The words are kind, but she doesn't sound terribly interested. Her eyes dart from Frank to the boy beside her and back. "We have some important news." She takes a deep breath before continuing, and Alice looks at her duvet, fumbling for the memories of Alice-in-Blue. The potion has dulled them, just as she feared, but she can still see the little family breakfasting in the large, messy kitchen.

Someone has been killed; that seems to be what the old lady is getting at. Eventually, she bows her head and the boy takes up the story. Alice watches him dreamily; he looks much kinder than his companion, and there's a sweetness when he looks at her that tugs deep inside. Still, she starts when he says the name Bellatrix.

"She's gone," he says quickly, looking deep into her eyes. "Bellatrix Lestrange is dead. So are the Lestrange brothers. You don't have to be afraid any more."

She ought to thank him; he's very concerned about her, and very kind. But all she can think about is why he's here; why he and the old lady are visiting, when she has no idea who they are.

He's still watching her, and he's very sweet, but she needs to know. "I'm sorry." She clears her throat. "I--who are--"

Which is when Frank leans over the bed and addresses the old lady in a faint, uncertain voice. "Mother?"

This entry was originally posted at http://lyras.dreamwidth.org/65362.html. You can comment there using Open ID.

Miscellaneous

lyras — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:56:54 GMT

1. Anyone else getting loads of spam comments at the moment? I've been getting several a day at both my DW and LJ journals. Really bloody annoying.

2. I'm still taking halfamoon prompts for female-centric ficlets, if anyone's interested: drop me a prompt here (DW) or here (LJ).

This entry was originally posted at http://lyras.dreamwidth.org/65064.html. You can comment there using Open ID.